Hat blocking machine construction



July 22, 1947. WELLS HAT BLOCKING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Filed July a, 1943 5 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR final/v6 D. W's-us ATTORNEY July 22, 1947. B. D. WELLS HAT BLOCKING MACHINE CONSTRUCTIUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1943 INVENTOR Baku/v6v 0. W515.

ATTORNEY "July 22, 1947.

.B. D. WELLS 2,424,525

HAT BLOCKING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Filed July'3, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 25 ATTORNEY July 22-, 1947. B. D. WELLS HAT BLOCKING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 4 2 .J 7 a w 9 9 6 WW M 5 mi; I: a in/.5 H

- uhn wmu ATTORNEY July 22, 1947. B. b. WELLS HAT BLOCKING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 3, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I I II I START INVENTOR 50x2 lA/G D.

ATTO R N EY Patented July 22, 1947 2 HAT BLOCKING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Burling D. Wells, Danbury, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to John B. Stetson Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 3, 1943, Serial No. 493,321

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hat blocking machines.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for blocking hat bodies of the fur felt type. Another object is to provide, in a hat blocking machine, improved actuation and improved control of the various coacting parts of the machine. Another object is to provide simple, compact and efiicient mechanism for actuating in their desired sequence the various parts and mechanisms of the apparatus for loading it with a hat body to be operated upon and for actuating and controlling the various mechanisms and parts to perform the desired mechanical and other processing operations upon the hat body. Another object is to provide a hat blocking machine having simplicity and dependability of manual control in conjunction with automatic control of other parts and operations. Another object is to provide a blocking machine of the above-mentioned character that will be easier and simpler for the operator to control,

more dependable and efficient in operation, and

of improved performance, as compared to blocking machines heretofore known or used.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,

and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified Figure 3 is a side elevation as seen from the 2 right in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as seen substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detached vertical sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detached fragmentary vertical sectional view showing certain details of certain gripping devices;

Figure '7 is an elevation along the line 11 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a view, principally diagrammatic,

showing certain electrical circuits and controls.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The apparatus comprises a suitable base or frame generally indicated by the reference character l0 and preferably and conveniently in the general form or configuration of a box-like casing or housing constructed or built up in any suitable way to accommodate, or to facilitate the mounting of, the various parts of the apparatus. In the top or horizontal portion H of the frame I!) and secured thereto as by screws l2 (see Figure 3) so as to be supported in rigid depending relation, is a frame [3 round in horizontal cross-section and shaped as is better shown in Figure 2 to provide a relatively heavy vertically elongated sleeve-like bearing [4 for sli'dably supporting and guiding, for up and down movement, an elongated sleeve member or tube 15 of relatively heavy and strong construction. A suitable key and keyway, indicated at E6, provided for the parts I 4 and H3 hold the part I5 against rotation during its up and down movement in the bearing l4. At the upper end of tube I5 is secured a block support generally indicated by the reference character I? and better shown in Figure 4. Block support I7 is made preferably of a material like stainless steel and its bottom hub-like portion I8 is provided with a bore 20 to form an extension of the tube I5 and to facilitate mounting thereof onto the upper end of tube [5.

Thus the bore 20 may be counter-bored as at [9 to accommodate the upper end of tube l5 and these parts may be so dimensioned to form a press fit to achieve a secure and strong assembly and dependable .alignment of the two parts.

The upper portion of the block support H has an oval peripheral wall 22 upstanding from an oval bottom wall 23 that extends about the bore IS, the major axis of the oval extending from front to rear as viewed in Figures 2 and 4, The oval-shaped space encompassed by walls 22 and 23 is closed over at its upper end by a perforated wall 24 that is also oval in shape, and supported over the wall 24 is a hollow metal hat crown block 26 having an oval'side wall 26* and an oval top wall 25 both perforated. The plane of perforated wall 24 and hence of the edge of wall 22 need not be flat but may be curved corresponding to the scope desired to give the hat body. Block 26 is preferably detachably mounted so that its major axis is aligned with the coincident major axes of the oval parts 22 and 24.

For this purpose the block 26 may have at its lower end an inturned flange 26 provided with two apertures on its major axis to take over or onto two dowel or locating pins 21 projecting upwardly from the plane of the perforated wall 24. Preferably, to give the mounting of the crown block 26 a strong support, there extends about the perforated wall 24 a ring-like but oval member 28 dimensioned to underlie the inturned bottom flange 25 of the block 26; the part or member 28 is secured to the outer oval wall 22 by arms 39, the parts being preferably welded to form a strong integral or unitary structure. The bottom of block 26 and the, parts which it engages may also be scopedto thescope of wall 24.

The hub 18 is formed to provide an annular chamber or passage 3| which at an suitablelateral point has connected thereto a flexible pipe or conduit 32 (see also Figure 6) which, as is later described, connects with a suitable source of steam supply. The upper wall of the annular passage 3i in hub i8 .is apertured as at 33', thus to emit steam intothe space underneath the perforated wall 2d and the perforated hat block 25.

The blocksupport H, as at the upper face of the, wall 23 about the bore M3,. is shaped to form a seat fora valve 35 to close off the passage at the upper end of the tube l5' and extending downwardly through the latter is avalve stem 38 the lower end of which is slidably guided in a bearing formed in arelatively heavy closure cap 3'? which is .fitted over and'secured to the lower end Oflthle tube 15. The lower end of valve stem 36' projects below the end cap 37, where it is engaged by one end of a lever 38 fulcrumed on a pin 39' supportediin suitable spaced lugs 40 integrally formed on one side of the. closure cap 37'; The other end of lever 38 is provided with a roller B2;for coaction with a cam 43 mounted and actuatedias is later described.

Valve 35'is toremain closed during the emission of steam to the space underneath the perforated hat block 26 .and related parts and is to be opened at an appropriate timein the operation'of the apparatus to connect thejust-mentioned; space to an exhausting apparatus or any other'sourceof; suction (not shown) which is connected byya pipe or conduit to a port 46 formed; in the wall of the bearing Min which the tube l5 isvertically slidable. Tube l5.is in turn provided-with a port 67, the two ports being so dimensioned and relatively positioned that, when the tube I5 .is in'its uppermost position as shown in Figure 4, ports 46' and 41 register and when tube l5-is in its lowered position, tube port d?- is displaced downwardlyfrom the bearing port 46, the latter being closed'oifby the walls of tube -|5 above port 41. When the ports register, opening of valve 35 thus connects the hollowspace within the block support I! and the hat-b10ck2B tthe suction or low pressure (that is, below atmospheric) apparatus.

Suitable means, preferably manuall controlled, a're'provided to hold the'tube with its block support it" in upward position. means may comprise a latch 49 loosely pivoted on astud5ll supported in spaced lugs 5| projecting' laterally from the bearingmember l4 and provided with suitable connections to an operating handle 52; The latch 49.is biased in any suitableway, as by the weight of the parts, toward theaxis of tube l5 and is suitably shaped so that uponupwardmovement of tube [5 into the position shown in Figure 4 it catches inunder.

the, end cap .3'l'and holds. the tube l5 and related Such parts against downward movement. Such upward movement of the tube [5 carries valve lift lever 38 upwardly with it and brings the roller 62 into position to be acted upon by the cam 43 which, when it depresses the lever 38 at an appropriate point in its rotary movement, thus effects lifting of the valve 35.

Release of the latch 49, by operation of the hand lever 52, permits the tube l5 and hat block support H to descend, closing off the suction port t8 and moving valve lift lever 38 out of the range of actuation of the cam 43.

When the tube 15 and block support are in lowermost-position, a hat body indicated at H in Figure 2 and previously operated upon to have a shape approximating a crown and brim is to be related to the apparatus and this is effected by a series-0f gripping devices which engage and grip the brim, indicated at B, at its outer peripheral portion, the gripping devices being numerous and closely spaced so that, when in action, the outer peripheral portion of the brim is substantially uniforml gripped and held. These devices, indicated generally by the reference character '55, are allcf the same construction, two of them appear in vertical cross-section as seen in Figures 2 and 4, and a detailed description of one of them will sumce for all.

Each device 55 comprises what will be termed a finger 56 projecting inwardly from and at the upper end of the vertical arm?! of a bell crank lever pivoted at 58 in an individual bearing block 59 secured to a horizontal portion of the part I3 of the frame it) as byscrews 60, the lever having its other arm fil projecting inwardly toward the verticallyslidable tube 15. The end ofarm 6| of hell crank lever 5l-6| projects into an annular slot 62 of a collar 63 that is guided for up and down sliding movement by the tub I5, these two parts interfitting with a suitable sliding fit.

With all of the bell crank levers 5'| 5'| thus mounted upon the part l3, being arranged in a circle whose center is coincident with the vertical axis ofthe tube 15 and hence of theperforated hat block 26, the upper faces of thefingers 56 form a substantially continuous annular or circular support (see Figure v1) upon which the outer portion of the brim B (the brim B and the crown, indicated at C, of the hat H beingat this stage circular instead of oval) is rested when the hat body H is inserted into the apparatus, and thence. that portion of the brim B is clamped against the fingers 56-by companion fingers 64- one for each device 55'iand each hingedlyv or pivotally mounted at the upper end of the lever correspondingly differentheights, as by giving.

bearing blocks 5! different vertical thicknesses above the fiat'faceof frame part I I so that, with all ofthe bell crank levers 5 1 -61 of similar or identical configuration and dimensions and with their points of pivoting at different elevations as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, their fingerend-faces 56 are at corresponding different elevations and thus define the desired scope.

For pivotal mounting of fingers 6d, theupper outer end of each lever arm 51 may be shaped thereof are shaped, as by being givena U-shaped or channel section (see Figure 2, where two are shown in section) as to accommodate therein a link 51 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper finger 84 as by a pin or stud 68 and which at its lower end is connected to the inner end of a relatively stiff leaf spring 18 that extends along a radius and whose outer end is anchored, as by a screw 1|, to the underface ofa large and strong ring 12,

The above-described U-shaped or channel horizontal cross-section of the arms 51 wil1 thus be seen to permit closer grouping together of the devices 55 because of the accommodation within the flanges of the U-shapedsection of the links 61, However, to bring the steam conduit conmotion 32 (Figure 1) through the circular-like array of upstanding devices 55, I prefer to make the parts of two adjacent devices 55, between which two the conduit 32 is to pass, of relatively solid construction as indicated by the reference characters 51 in Figures 1, 6 and 7, thus to give them sufiicient strength to permit cutting them away at their adjacent sides as at 51 and 51 in Figure 7, the cut-away portions or slots 51 and 51 being of substantial vertical extent in relation to the vertical dimension of the conduit 32 which can be flattened out somewhat or made oval (see Figure 7) in that portion thereof that extends through the upstanding devices 55. Thereby the two specially shaped parts 51" -51 can freely pivot about their lower pivots just like the other devices 55, without the conduit 32 in- .erfering therewith or with any part of the hat body.

The links by which the upper fingers 64 of these two devices are actuated are preferably, therefore, also specially shaped, being given a curvature as shown at 61 in Figure 6 and being pivot ally connected at their upper ends to the fingers 64 and being secured to leaf springs 10 at their lower ends, just as are the links 61 of the other devices 55.

Ring 12 that carries the springs 10 is mounted for up and down sliding movement and for this purpose a convenient arrangement comprises two upstanding parallel guide bars 18 and 14, diametrically opposed with respect to the axis of the tube 15 and suitably anchored at their lower ends in the base frame 18, one adjacent each side of the latter as appears from Figure 2. The ring 12 is provided with lateral extensions forming sleeve-like or elongated bearings 15 and 16 to guide the ring 12 in its up and down movements and to maintain its plane and hence the plane of the spring anchorages 1| always at right angles to the vertical axis of the tube l and related parts carried by or grouped around it.

For each device 55, ring 12 thus carries an inwardly extending cantilever leaf spring to actuate a-corresponding upper finger 64, Ring 12 serves also as the anchorage for one end of a biasing spring 11, one for each finger-carrying device 55. Thus one end of spring 11 is anchored to the ring 12 as by a pin extension of screw 1| and the other end is secured t the link 61, through which the spring urges the device outwardly away from the hat-block.

Springs 11 bias the finger-carrying arms 51 in a direction away from the vertical axis of the hat block, being preferably relatively light or gentle in their action, but sufiiciently strong to effect the desired biasing, to an extent as determined by the upper face 62 of the annular slot 62 in the'slidable collar 63, for it is that upper face 62 that the ends 6| of the bell crank levers 51-6l engage to limit the outward swing or bias of the arms 51.

This upper face 62 of the slot 62 is a plane face in that it lies in a plane that is at right angles to the vertical axis of the collar 63 and with the devices 55 grouped in a circle as above described, the coaction between biasing springs 11 and the upper face 62 insures that the fingers 56 likewise lie in a circle and thus form a circular annular support to receive the outer portion of the circular brim B. Thus, and ultimately, each gripping device, when the companion gripping fingers 64 are brought into action, grips substantially the same radial extent of-the brim B.

The companion or juxtaposed face 62 of the annular slot 62 is, however, curved and hence is not plane and is therefore not parallel to the face 62 This feature is later'described in greater detail and results in a variation of the width or vertical dimension of the slot 62 to permit such relative shifting of the gripping devices 55 about their pivots 58 to take place as causes the gripping fingers 56-64 to define an oval when the coaction of the lever arms 61 is shifted from the plane face 62 to the curved face 52'".

Having placed the hat body H onto the fingers 56, the companion fingers 54 are swung and held in upwardly tilted position during this operation of loading the machine with the hat body.

To the lateral extensions 15 and 16 (Figure 2) of the finger-controlling ring 12 are pivotally connected as at 18 and 18', respectively, links 19 and 88 that extend downwardly along either side of the box-like base or frame I!) and at their lower ends links 19 and are pivotally connected to the rear ends of parallel and horizontal links 8| and 82 (see Figures 3 and 4), respectively, these links being pivoted at their forward ends to the sides of the frame ID as by suitable studs 83 and 84, respectively,

These externally mounted links 8! and 82 are slotted as at 85 and 85 to receive therein eccentrics 81 and 88, respectively, that are fixedly mounted at the respective ends of a cross shaft (Figures 3 and 4) which extends crosswise of the frame 18 which, in its respective sides, is provided with suitable bearings I83 and I04 (Figure 1) for rotatably supporting the shaft 98. One extreme end of the shaft 98, that is, the end portion that extends beyond the cam 81 mounted upon its external end, has keyed or otherwise secured to it a handle 9! (see also Figure 3) by which the shaft 98 and hence the eccentrics 81-88 may be actuated to raise or lower the finger-controlling ring 12. If desired, a handle 9| a may be mounted and keyed at the other extreme end of shaft 50, for similarly actuating the latter.

Accordingly, by actuating the lever 9| in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3, eccentrics 81 and 88 are rotated sufiiciently to depress the lever-like external links 8l--82 and thereby, by the inter-connecting links 19 and 88, depress the finger-controlling ring 12 which thus, through the strong or relatively stiif spring action of the cantilever leaf spring 10 (Figure 2) swings the gripping fingers 64 inwardly and downwardly to clamp the outer portion of the circular :brim B against the scoped annular support formed by the upper faces of the fingers 56, thus forcing the gripped portion of the brim to assume a corresponding scope. The fit of the eccentrics 81 and 88 in their respective slots 35 and 85 is such that swinging of the shaft 98 an hence of 7 the eccentrics in reverse direction raises the lever like links ti -82, thus reversing th motion and action of the finger-controllingring 12;

Having thus peripherally gripped the circular brim B, the collar 63' (Figure 2) is actuated in upward direction to swing thefinger-carrying arms 51 outwardly away from the axisof the hat body thus to tension or stretch the brim radia1ly outwardly, but because of the scopeof the gripping faces of fingers 55, the tensioni-ng follows the scope; Durin this: operationthe tube with its block support I1 and the hat block I6 is. in downward position; as this brim-stretching operation is carried. on, steam may be admitted, under controls hereinafter described, through the conduit 3'2 (Figure 5)' to the passage 31 in the hub I8 and" through the apertures 33 into the interior of the block support, whence it-moistens and; heats the hat body to which it is emitted through: the perforations in the Wall 24' and hat block 25, to soften and make more easily workable and to avoid tearing the fur felt of the hat body; These initial steps thus also insure initial working of the brim into scoped contour; a contour preferably maintained by other coacti'ons throughout the rest. of the steps.

The actuation of the collar 63 thus to pull out the brim is preferably achieved manually for it is: desirable that the operator have opportunity to exercise discretion as to the rate and extent of pulling out, the extent of pulling out being otherwise also variable according tosuch' factors as theparticularsize of hat body operated upon, the character of the fur felt, and the like. Accord-- ingly; it is preferred to provide a suitable manually operable actuating means, conveniently in the form of a hand wheel 95 (Figures 2 and 4-) positioned for convenience and ease of access, as at'the front of. the left side, as viewed in Figure 2, of the frame'or base In.

Hand wheel 95 is mounted upon a, shaft 98 journaled in an elongated horizontalbearing 9? (see'Fig-u're 1) provideddn or secured to the upper part of the left. side of the frame I5 and at the inner endlof the shaft 95 is a worm 58' that meshes with a worm wheel sector99 (Figures 1, 5 and 4) that is keyed to the externally exposed end of ashaft IFJI that extends crosswise of the frame Iii-whose sides are provided with bearings to rotatably support the shaft. For speedier action,, worm. 98- and' worm sector as: are of large pitch like a: double thread; and to prevent reversibility'of'drive under the tension of the ha tbody; I- provide a friction brake band IHZ'to apply a. constant resistance to rotation of shaft 96', the brake band extending about a suitable c'ylin drical-surfaced part, as is better'shown' in Figure 5, and having suitable connection with a'fixe'd part such as the bracket I09 (Figures 1, 3 and' l) so that it does notlpartake of. rotation:

Near its middle, the'sh'aft'. IOI' has: fixed to it arms I05: and I06 tothe free ends'of which are pivotallyconnect'ed links I01 and. IE8;- respectively, that extend to either'side of the bearing member 14' and through suitable apertures I3 and I3 (Figure 2). in the frame part It thereof to either side of'the collar 53 to which the upper ends of. the links I01 and: I08 ar'e-pivotal1y secured'by suit'ablestuds,

The shaft ilfi'andthe bearing 9'I'(Fi'g'ure 5) are provided with suitable coacting thrust bearing means and like parts t'oholdlthe shaft-96 against axial: displacement under the reaction from the working thrustv of theworm 98, and including a collar l I 2 on shaft iiii for coactionwith the right- 8v hand end of the bearing 91 and a collar H0, the latter being preferably integral with the shaft 96 for c'oaction with the left-hand end of the bearing 97. Between the collar H0 and the hub of the hand wheel 95 there is mounted upon shaft 96 a collar III having an external cylindrical surface mating with the external cylindrical surface at the end of the bearing 97, either or both of these parts being counterbored to accommodate the collar H0. The cylindrical surface of the collar III bears graduations which, when the collar II I is locked to the shaft 96- as by a set screw IIS may be used to give a visual indica tion, with reference to a fixed mark I I4 of refer ence borne by the cylindrical surface of the bearing 91, of the extent to which the collar I I0 is actuated by operation of the hand wheel 95.

For any desired vertical position of the collar 63 (Figure 2) within such range of movement thereof as maintains contact between the arms SI of the gripping devices and the upper plane face 62 of the groove 62, the graduation-bearing collar II I may be set on the shaft 96 so that its zero mark coincides with the reference mark H4 onthebearing 91,- and within that range, it will thusbe seen, the diameter of the circular arrangement of the brim-supporting fingers 56 may be varied according to the diameter of the bri'rns of the run of hat bodies to be operated upon. Thus the operator may make sure that the gripping devices 55 are always manually restored to the proper initial starting radius and by then operating the hand whee195'to raise the collar 63, thusto'pull out the brim B, he can, by these graduations, give the brim of each hat body the same pulling-out processing.

During this pulling-out operation, the brim is stretched also" from its initially circular shape to an oval: peripheral shape, for, to swing the gripping devices 55 outwardly away from the axis of the'hat' body to pull out the brim to the desired extent as determined by the indicating device above described, the lower face 62' of the collar groove 62 is brought into engagement with the arms 61 of the devices and the curvature of the facet? and hence the width or vertical dimension of the slot 62 are such that the front and rear gripping devices 55, bein those aligned along whatis who the major axis of the oval, are swung outwardly'aw'ayfrom the hat axis to a greater extent than those gripping devices 55 that are at the respective sides of the series, being aligned along. what is to be the minor axis of the oval. In other words, with the face 62 planeand at right angles to the axis of the collar 63, the groove 62 of the collar is of minimum width or vertical dimension at the two front and rear points of the above-mentioned major axis and from thesepoints progressively increases in width to points respectively at the two sides, as is indicated in Figure 2 Accordingly, upward movement of' collar- 53 effects such relative displacement of the gripping fingers 56-64to gradually and progressively change their circular arrangementto an ovalar-rangement.

Having pulled out the brim to the desired ex-' tent, tube I5 is now made to rise so as-to carry the perforated. hat block 26 into'what is to be the crown C ofthe hat body H- but at the same time aband ring I H (see Figure 2) is brought downwardly externally of crown portion 0 and into engagement with the pulled-out brim Badjacent' theband' or side portion of the crown C; thesem'ovements are'initiated bythe operator, as islater describer, and take place in timed relation to each other, by appropriate controls and actuating mechanisms.

Considering first how the tube I is raised to raise the perforated hat block, there is provided a cross rod IIB (see Figure 2) extending between and supported by the two sides of the frame I9 and forming a fulcrum or pivotal support for a lever I2IJ (see also Figures 2 and 4) which may be bifurcated as shown in Figure 2 and having supported in its ends rollers I2I which engage,

the underface of the lower end cap 31 of the tube I5. The forked or bifurcated form of lever I will thus be seen to permit the accommodation therebetween of the downwardly projecting end of valve stem 35 and part of the valve lifter lever 38 that coacts with the stem 36.

The other arm I22 of lever I20 carries at its end a roller I23 that is in engagement with a cam I24 mounted and actuated as later described to actuate the lever I20 in turn to actuate the tube member I5.

The band ring I I! (Figure 2) is a strong metal oval-shaped annulus or element which is manually placed in position upon the pulled-out brim B and its internal shape is an oval of substantially the desired shape and size which the junction between the brim B and crown C is ultimately to have. It is preferably also scoped to conform with the scope of the other parts above described. It is acted upon by a band ring depresser, indicated in Figure 2 at I26, which comprises a strong metal hood-like member, open at the top as at I21, and internally dimensioned to be materially larger than the dimensions of the hat block 26 so as to leave adequate space between it and the exterior face of the crown portion 0 of the hat, and its lower end edge or face is oval and engages against the upper face of the band ring I I1. Where the upper face of rin I I1 is curved or scoped, the lower edge of depresser I25 preferably conforms to the curvature or scope of ring I IT,

The depresser member I26 i carried by a cross frame I33 having at its ends vertically elongated guiding bearings I3I and I32 in slidable engagement with the vertical guide bars 13 and I4 respectively. Bearing elements l3I-I32 are provided with trunnions I33 and I34, respectively, to which are pivotally connected the upper ends of connecting rods I35-l36 respectively. The latter extend downwardly and externally along the respective sides of the base I0 and at their lower ends are pivotally connected in any suitable way to levers I3! and I38 on the outside of the frame sides and extending rearwardly thereof where they are fixed or keyed to the externally exposed ends of a rocker shaft I40 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearings provided or formed in the sides of the base I II (see Figure 1).

Up and down movement of the connecting rods I35--I3Ei and hence of the depressor I26, the latter being nicely guided by the vertical guide posts 'I3I4 and by them always maintained coaxial with the axis of the hat block 26 and its carrier and tube member I5, may thu be effected by appropriately controlling and actuating the shaft I40, preferably by oscillating or rocking it about its axis for which reason I term it a rocker shaft. Such drive of the shaft is preferably effected by a cam I4I (see Figure 3) that is secured or keyed to the outwardly extending end of a shaft I42 that is rotatably supported in suitable bearings formed or provided in the two sides of the base II), it being shaft I42 upon which, intermediate of the sides of the base I6, the abovedescribed cams 43 and. I24 (see Figure 4) are mounted and keyed.

Cam I (Figure 3) coacts with a roller I43 suitably mounted in or carried by lever I38, preferably at a point intermediate of the length of the latter, cam I4I being suitably shaped to effect repetition of up and down strokes of the band ring depresser I26 in coaction with the cam roller or follower I43.

Where the cam I M is of the peripheral type, as in the illustrative embodiment, suitable means are provided to maintain the cam follower I43 in engagement with the cam periphery and this may comprise a relatively long heavy spring I44 having one end secured to a lug-like lever arm extension I45 of the lever I38 and having its other end anchored to the. base Ill. Preferably, provision is made for adjusting the tension of the spring and that may be embodied in the spring anchorage. Thus the other end of the spring may be secured to the forked end I46 of the threaded rod I48 that passes freely through a hole in a lug I49 in the base III, the threaded rod I48 having suitable nuts I50, preferably to either side of the lug I49, whereby the rod I48 may be shifted axiallyand locked in adjusted position, correspondingly to fix the tension of the spring I44.

The spring I44 is of sufficient power to swing the shaft I40 and'its lever arms I3II38 in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 and 4 and to lift and urge the connecting rods and depresser I25 upwardly, all as limited or determined or opposed by the peripheral cam I M whose shape is substantially or generally like that shown in Figure 3.

Thus cam M! has a portion I4I of minimum radius corresponding to which depressor I26 assumes an uppermost position, that portion merges into a portion I 4| of materially greater radius whence follows a portion I4I of graduallyincreasing radius but within that arc the portion I4 I is broken up into a number of successive high and low points corresponding to which, as the cam rotates, the depresser I26 is given several relatively rapid cycles of relatively rapid strokes of up and down movement, whence the portion I4 I merges into a portion I4I of maximum radius at which depresser I26 is in lowermost position, this radius then mergin into the portion I4I of minimum radius.

Cams MI, 43 and I24 are fixed to cam shaft I42 in fixed angular relationships to one another as are also several other cams. Thus there is a cam I52 on cam shaft I42 that coacts with a lever I53 pivotally supported by the base II] as by a stud I54 and arranged to actuate a valve I55 interposed between a suitable source of steam supply indicated at I56 and the above-described flexible conduit 32 that leads to the chamber 3| in the base of the block supports I! as above described. Valve I55 is preferably a biased valve of any suitable construction so as to be selfclosing; thus it may be a spring-loaded valve and its stem I 5'! is connected in any suitable way to one end of the lever I53. Actuation of lever I53 in a direction to overcome the springbias of the valve thus opens the valve while reverse actuation of the lever allows the spring of the valve to close it, the spring acting also to bias the lever I53 itself if desired.

Lever I53 i pro-vided with a cam follower I58 of any suitable construction to coact with the cam I52 whereby the rotation of 'the cam can open and hold open the valve or permit the spring of the valve to close it and hold it closed, according to the conformation of the cam. Preferably the lever I53 is also arranged to be manually actuated as by a foot treadle I68 suitably pivoted upon a lower portion of the frame I8 and connected to one end of the lever I53 as by link I6I. These relationships are such that the valve may be manually opened and held open throughout such portion or portions of the cam I52 corresponding to which the valve [55 is closed and which allow of manual movement of the lever in valve-opening direction, the cam I52 being therefore preferably of the peripheral type.

Another cam carried by cam shaft I42 is cam I63 which is illustratively of the peripheral type and is of constant radius throughout excepting for two angularly-spaced projecting parts I63 and I63 This cam is to take part in the control of the drive of the apparatus which is preferably driven by an electric motor I64, a description of the driving and circuit and control connections of which at this point will aid in understanding the action of cam I63.

Motor I84 is preferably of the type that embodies an electrically-controlled brake and that has built into it a suitable reduction gearing, the terminal shaft I65 of which carries a gear I66 which meshes with a larger gear I61 keyed to the cam shaft M8 at a suitable point intermediate of the ends of the shaft and preferably adjacent one of the sides of the frame IIJ between which sides the motor is mounted and secured by any suitable means not shown so as to be substantially housed within the box-like base I 8 itself. The brake for the motor and its control are not shown in detail and are simply diagrammatically indicated at I68 and it may be of any suitable electro-magnetically controlled type such as one in which de-energization of the brake control winding permits a spring or the like to put the brake on while energization of the winding overcomes the bias of the spring and releases the brake, such an arrangement having the advantage that the control winding need simply be connectd, as by conductors I69-I10 to the motor circuit I1I-I12I13 on the motor side of the main motor switch generally indicated by the reference character I14 and conveniently housed in a casing I85 mounted within the base I8 adjacent the motor.

Motor switch I14 is electro-magnetically actuated by a solenoid winding I15 and is of any suitable mechanical and electro-magnetic construction or arrangement of the type in which successive substantially momentary energizations of the solenoid winding alternately open and close the switch,

A suitable form of such switch is diagrammatically indicated in the drawingsand it may comprise a suitably guided member I11 which insulatingly carries a suitable number of contact elements with which to bridge or unbridge corresponding pairs of fixed contacts. The solenoid winding I15 is provided with a core I18 that is connected by a link I19 to a tumbler element I88 that is rotatably supported on a fixed pivot or pin I8I, the line of the pivot IBI and of the pivot point I82 of link I19 being along the bisector of the angle made by the side edges I80 and I88 of the element I88 and the pivot I 8| being in line with the axis of core I19.

Tumbler element I89 has projecting from it a stud or pin I83 that engages in a transverse slot I84 of the vertically-guided contact-carrying member I11.

In the position shown, the contact-carrying member I11 is in lowermost position and the switch is open, and the parts are so proportioned that in this relationship solenoid core I18 rests with its lower end upon the side edge I88 of the tumbler element I88.

If winding I15 is now energized momentarily, core I18 is quickly pulled up and starts, through link I19, to rotate the tumbler element I in counterclockwise direction, pin I63 thus moving the contact member I11 upwardly. The momentum of the upward movement of core I18 is sufficient in turn to give the tumbler element I88 sufficient momentum to carry the link pivot I82 to the left of the line of the axis of core I18 and hence to the left of the fixed pivot IBI, the downward movement of core I1I that takes place upon de-energization of winding I15 thereby completing the counterclockwise rotary movement of part I80 which by now presents the side edge I8!) in the path of downward movement of core I18 which comes to rest thereon; at the same time, pin I83 continues its lift of the contact-carrying member I11, bringing it into uppermost. position where the switch contacts are bridged, pin I83 coming to rest at a point displaced from the position shown in the drawing.

The switch thus remains closed, a subsequent momentary energization of winding I15 causing the just-described sequence to be reversed, thus opening the switch and thus returning the parts to the positions shown in the drawing.

In the drawing, the power side or terminals of the main motor switch I14 are indicated at I9II92 and I93 and they lead to any suitable source of electrical energy, the circuit being illustratively a 3-wire circuit; from the power side of the switch I14, the switch winding I15 may be energized under the control of suitable switches, one of which is indicated at I94 and is constructed and arranged in any suitable way to be actuated by the above-described cam I63 on the cam shaft I42.

As is diagrammatically indicated in the drawing, the switch I94 may comprise two fixed contacts and a bridging contact I95, the latter actuated by a bell crank lever I 96 suitably mounted in coacting relation to the cam I63, suitable means such as a spring (not shown) being employed to bias the lever I96 and hence its cam follower portion always against the cam periphery of cam I63, the bias being in a direction to open the switch I95.

Another switch for controlling the energizetion of switch winding I15 comprises a push button switch I91 suitably mounted on the base I8 within easy reach of the operator.

The contact-carrying member I11 of the switch I14 is provided with a contact-bridging member I98 that coacts with two vertically spaced pairs of contacts so that one pair is bridged while the other pair is not bridged according to whether the contact-carrying member I11 is in uppermost or lowermost position; cam control switch I94 is in circuit with one of these pairs of contacts and the manual switch I91 is in circuit with the other pair of contacts.

More specifically, when the main switch I14 is open and hence member I11 is in lowermost position, bridging member I98 bridges the lower pair of contacts and control of the switch winding I15 is thereby placed in the push button switch I91 which is thus a start switch. The corresponding circuit extends from main line cond or I 9 conductor 200, winding I15, lower 13 contacts and bridging member I98, conductor 26I, push button switch I91 and then by way of conductor 292 to main line wire I93.

If the normally open push button switch I91 is now actuated, switch winding I15 is energized to close the main switch and to start the motor I64 and hence to start the drive of the driving and cam shaft I42, the brake control winding being thereby energized to release the brake and to hold it released as long as the circuit of themotor remains closed by the motor switch I14.

The actuation of switch I14 in closing position, thus to move the contact-carrying member I11 into its uppermost position, shifts the bridging member I 88 out of engagement with the lower pair of contacts, thus removing the circuit from the control of start switch I91, and moves bridging member I98 into bridging relation to the upper pair of contacts and thereby places the circuit of winding I15 under the control of the cam control switch I94. This latter circuit extends from power line I92, conductor 296, winding I15, bridging member I98 and the upper pair of contacts, conductor 203, switch I94, conductor 264 and thence back to the other power line I 93. Cam control switch I94, when actuated into closing position subsequently, may thus energize main switch winding I15 to cause the main switch and motor circuit to be opened, the accompanying de-energization of the brake control winding allowing the brake to be promptly applied and the motor shaft quickly brought to a stop, thus avoiding over-drive of the cam shaft I42. Opening of the main switch I14 removes the control of winding I15 from the cam switch I94 and restores the control to the start switch I91.

Considering now a typical cycle of operation, the starting or at rest positions of the various parts are as follows: the main motor switch is open, contact-carrying member I11 being in low ermost position and bridging member I98 therefore bridges the lower pair of contacts and places the control of the main switch in the start switch I91. Band ring depresser I26 is in its uppermost position, cam I4I being in a position where its portion I4I (of minimum radius) is presented to the cam follower I43, levers I31--I38 being hence in their positions of extreme uppermost swing under the bias of spring I44 and depresser I26 being thereby held in uppermost position.

The vertically-sliding tube I5 carrying the block support l1 with the desired block 26 assembled to it as above described, is in lowermost position, being engaged by a portion of cam I24 that is of minimum radius; biased latch 49 is, of course, out of engagement with the lower end cap 31 of the tube I5, but is in biased position and ready to be cammed into catching and holding relation to the end cap 31 when the tube I5 is later on raised by cam I24 and lever I29 I22. This downward position of tube I5 and of end cap 31, the latter carrying the valve control lever 38, likewise insures that the cam follower 42 of the lever 38 is out of range of actuation by the cam 43; valve 35, therefore, is closed. Cam I52, by which the spring biasedand normally closed steam valve I55 may be actuated is in a position to present to the cam follower I58 on lever I53 a portion of its cam periphery that is of small radius so that the valve control lever I53 may be operated by the foot treadle I60. Switch cam I63 is in a position where one of its projecting parts, namely, part I63 has just been moved out of engagement with the cam follower of switch lever I66, the braking effect of the brake I68 on the motor I64 being so adjusted that the motor, upon opening of its circuit, and hence the cam shaft I42 and cam I63 can coast sufficiently to ride out of engagement with the switch lever whichever part I63 or I63 of the cam has been instrumental in closing the switch I94 for similar reasons, the peripheral extent of these cam portions is relatively small.

With block support and tube I5 in lower position, suction port 41 in tube I5 is closed, gripping devices are open in that the gripping fingers 64 thereof are in upstanding position, hand lever 9I, which controls them being in a position to hold the finger-controlling ring 12 in uppermost position.

Collar 63 is in lowermost position and hence arms 6| of the finger-carrying levers 51-6I are in engagement with the upper face 62 of the groove 62, thereby fixing the companion gripping fingers 5664 of the entire series of gripping devices 55 in a circle. The effective diameter of this circle, determined by the links 61 with which the peripheral edge of the circular hat brim B engages when the hat H is inserted, is made to suit the diameter of the brim by the calibrated or indexed setting of the hand wheel 95 as above described.

The hat body is now inserted, with the circular hat brim resting upon the upper faces of the fingers 56 and beingtcentered, as it were, by the links 61 which define a circle just about equal to the diameter of the brim, thus making sure also that each gripping device 55 grips the same radial extent of the outer portion of the brim. The operator now actuates hand lever 9I, thus to move the ring 12 that controls the upper gripping fingers 64, downwardly, thus to swing these fingers 64 against the upper face of the peripheral portion of the brim B and also to tension the springs 16 to maintain a gripping tension on the movable fingers 64 and thus securely hold the brim about its periphery.

The operator now turns the hand wheel 95 to move the collar 63 upwardly and hence move the gripping devices 55 outwardly, and during this operation be steps upon the foot treadle I to open the steam valve I55 at such intervals or for such duration of time as is dictated by his judgment, bearing in mind such factors as the quality and character of the felt of the hat body, its weight, the extent of pulling out of the brim, etc. As the hand wheel is thus rotated, to an extent determined by the graduations or indexing above described, the geometric arrangement of th gripping devices 55 undergoes a transition from the initial above-mentioned circular arrangement to the above-described oval arrangement, it being noted that these operations, including the initial gripping of the brim B of the hat, are accompanied by the scoping of the hat brim inasmuch as, in the preferred arrangement and as above described, the upper faces of the lower gripping fingers 56 are at progressively different heights to correspond to an approximation of the curvature, called the scope, desired to give the brim.

The hat body during these operations, is, due to the steam treatment which it gets by the steam emitted through the perforations in the part 24 of the block support and in the block itself, raised in temperature and moistened, thus conditioning its inter-felted and inter-locked fur fibres and the fur felt fabric itself for quicker and readier accommodation, without tearing or damagato the distortions and tensioning to which the hat body is subjected by the apparatus. Having pulled out the brim to the desired oval extent, as indicated by the graduations by which the amount of turning of the hand wheel 35 may be gauged, the operator now places the band ring II'I onto the brim and then presses the push button start switch I91, whence the cam shaft I42 commences to turn, slowly rotating in unison the various cams mounted thereon. Cam I4I, with portion I4I in engagement with cam roller I43 at the start, rides portion I4 I into engagement with the cam roller I43, thus bringing the depresser I26 down into engagement with the band ring II'! and concurrently therewith cam I24 rides its portion of graduall increasing radius into engagement with the cam follower I23 on lever I 20-I 22, thus raising the tube I5 with the hat block 26, the upward movement of the block 26 entering the block into the crown portion of the hat body under the coaction of the band ring I I! which is engaged and held, and according to circumstances moved downwardly somewhat, by the descending depressor I26. Tube I5 is raised by cam I24 sufficiently for latch 49 to catch and hold the tube I 5 and hat block support in uppermost position, and at the same time, the upward movement of tube I5 carries valve stem lever 38 upwardly to bring its cam follower 42 within the range of actuation by cam 43. Steam valve control cam I52, during the just-described operations, raises and holds the lever I53 in position to open and hold open the steam valve I55, so that the hat body is kept moist and hot as the block is entered into the hat body, the crown portion of which is thus pulled, tensioned and in effect conformed to the hat block, it being noted that the band ring II! is also scoped to conform to the scope of the gripping devices 55. During the latter portions of the above-described operations, the undulated portion I4I of the cam I4I rides into engagement with the cam roller I43, that portion being of generally the same radius as the portion I4I at the start and gradually increasing in radius as rotation continues through portion I4I Due to the high and low .points in the latter, the depresser I26 undergoes several relatively rapid cycles of rapid up and down strokes in order in effect to felt or work the heated and moist crown portions of the hat body over the hat block and the brim portion into substantially 90 relation to the side parts of the crown C; during these latter reciprocating movements of the band ring and its depresser, tube I5 and the hat block complete thei upward movement under the control of cam I24 which has a portion of maximum radius and of short peripheral extent to hold these parts uppermost and to give the latch 49 time to engage the bottom end cap 3! of the tube I5 and thus lock these parts in uppermost position. Depending upon relative positions of the cams or upon the specific shape of cam I24, the hat block reaches its uppermost position before or after the commencement of the reciprocations of the depresse I26 and the band ring I21, as may be desired.

With the tube I5 and hat block now locked in uppermost position by latch 49, steam valve control cam I52 closes the steam valve I55, but this action preferably does not take place until just after portion I4I of cam I4I, being a portion of maximum radius, has effected by way of depressor I26 completion of the downward movement of the scoped band ring II'I into substantially the scoped plane of the outer portions ofthe brim B that are held by the gripping devices 55, thus to conclude the stretching, tensioning, or blocking of the crown C over and onto the hat block 26 and the tensioning and pressing of the brim B against the scoped brim support 24. Thus also the desired angular relation between the brim B and the sides of the crown C is completed.

The upward movement of tube I5 and its locking by the latch 49 brings and holds the port 41 in registry with the port 46 which is connected by the pipe to the source of low pressure or suction. As this registry of the ports is effected, valve 35 remains closed, but is thereafter opened by the cam 43 which engages the roller 42 on the valve lever 36 to tilt the latter clockwise and thus lift the valve stem 36 and valve 35. Any steam or water vapor that remains in the tube I5 and in the space within the block support and underneath the hat body is withdrawn through the pipe 45 and cool and. dry air from the atmosphere is drawn down through the crown C and brim B of the hat body, through the perforations in the block 26 and in the wall 24, thus cooling off and to some extent drying the fur felt of the hat body and in effect fixing the fabric and its interlocked and inte-rfelted fur fibres in the positions and shapes to which the crown has been conformed by the block 26 and the brim B has been conformed by the scoped perforated wall 24, all in co-action with the scoped band ring HT and the scoped and oval arrangement of the outwardly tensioned and held gripping devices 55.

Just about the time that valve 35 is opened, which happens at the point of maximum depression of the depresser I26 by portion I4l of the cam I4I, projecting portion I63 of cam I63 engages the stop switch lever I96 to close the switch I94, thereby to open the main line switch I14 and effect stopping of the motor and the apparatus as above described, part I63 of the cam riding out of engagement with the cam lever I96 before final stoppage results. The hat body remains in the relationship last above described, all of the moving parts being at rest, but with valve 35 open and hence with continued drawing by the low pressure or suction apparatus of vcool and dry air through the tautly conformed crown and brim. The operator allows the apparatus to remain in this condition for an appropriate length of time which may vary according to the character, quality, thickness, size and other factors of the fur felt hat body and hence the operator exercises appropriate judgment to suit the circumstances, whence he actuates the push botton start switch I91, again starting the motor and starting the apparatus.

This second starting of the apparatus moves cam 43 out of engagement with the valve lift lever 36, thus closing valve 35 and cutting off the suction apparatus. Cam I4I rides its point of maximum radius in the portion !4 I along the cam roller I43 to bring the portion I4I of minimum radius gradually into coaction with the cam roller I43 in order thus to raise the depressor I26 but before the depresser I26 starts moving upwardly, the gripping devices are made to release the brim. This release of the gripping fingers is effected by a cam 206 keyed to main cam shaft I42 and arranged to actuate the shaft 96 to swing eccentrics 81 and 88 in a direction to effect upward swing of the lever arms 8I82 and hence upward movement of the finger-controlling ring I2. On shaft 96 I key a lever arm 26'! provided with a roller 208 in its outer end, and on shaft H8 is pivoted a lever 269 in any suitable way so that it may freely swing about the shaft as an axis and be held against axial movement along the shaft, thereby to present one arm Z09 thereof for engagement with {the roller 208 of lever '20! on shaft 90 and to present its other arm 20-9 in the path of rotary move ment of the cam 296 on shaft I42. f f

This arrangement permits manual swinging by the lever 9| of the shaft 99 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, thearm 209 of lever 209 maintaining contact with the .roller 298 during the manual swing of shaft 90 and its lever arm 201. When the shaft 99, however, is swung by the hand lever 9| to move and hold the finger grip control ring 12 down, the :arm 209 of lever 209 is positioned in the path of rotary movement of cam 296 on camshaft J42, cam 296, being somewhat like a trip or an :arm, being halted just in advance of possible en gagement with arm 209 when the apparatus is first halted by the projecting part H53 of the cam H63 controlling the stop switch I94. 1

Accordingly, when the operator actuates the start button I91, the suction is cut off as above described and the first portion of rotary movement of cam shaft I42 also brings trip camiflfi quickly into engagement with arm 209 of lever 299, tilting the latter about the shaft H9 and through the other arm 209 depressing the arm 29? on shaft 99 to a sufficient extent to rotate the shaft 90 and its eccentrics to raise the finger grip control ring I2 and thereby raise the companion or upper gripping fingers 64 about their pivots 65, thus releasing the brim. Trip cam 206, in continuing its rotary movement, rides over the end of lever arm 209 and out of engagement therewith, the bias of lever 209, by the greater weight of arm 209 maintaining the latter always in engagement with the roller 208 on the lever arm 291 of shaft 90. i

The brim is thus released from the gripof the gripping devices and by the time that re'-, lease is completed, the depresser I'26 commences upward movement to its uppermost position cor- ;responding to the engagement of cam roller 143 with the cam portion I 4| of cam 'I4I. Just-about when the depresser reaches its uppermost position,

ithe projecting part I 63 of stop switch cam Hi3 ace jtuates stop switch I94 in turn to effect opening :of the motor switch I'I4, halting the motor and the apparatus promptly under the braking action @of the brake I68, control of the main switch I14 being by the bridging member I98 of themain :switch now transferred again to the push button :start switch I97. H l

The hat body with the block 26 and also the band ring II! are now removed, after which the operator lowers block support I1 by lifting operating handle 52, which withdraws latchw49 from part .31, thus dropping tube I5 which carries block support l1, and also turns hand wheel 95 to restore the gripping devices 5-5 to their innermost positions and to their circular arrangement, to an extent as is indicated by the grac'i-- uations or indexing related to the hand wheel 95 as above described, thus conditioning thegrip ping devices '55, with their upper gripping fingers 64 upstanding or in open position due to the an tomatic actuation thereof as just above described; for the reception of the next hat body, whence the cycle of operations above described is re;- peated, The ensuing actuation of hand lever 9| to raise the collar 63 at an appropri te p i in the sequence of steps restores the 1ever'209 18 to a position such that its arm M19 is again in the path of rotary movement of the trip cam 206 duringthe ensuing cycle of operations. Effective and efficient blocking may be achieved with nicety and uniformity of action of the various parts of the apparatus. The mounting and actuation of the various parts, such as the depresser and the gripping finger control {ring are nicely balanced individually as well as in relation to each other, the upstanding parallel guide bars 13I'4 insuring rigidity of mounting and dependability of guiding of these parts to insure repeated uniformity of action andoperation, while the driving linkages and relatedactuating parts therefor aid in achieving these advantages during actuation of the various parts. "Furthermore, the apparatus will be seen to be desirably automatic in certain of its actions and advantageously automatic in halting certain of its actions at such points where it is desirable to bring the "judgment and skill of the operator to bearuponthe processing of the hat body and subsequent removal and replacement thereof, these features being so corelated as to leave the operator those selected steps as to which his skill and judgment can best contribute toward quality of result, the steps performed automatically by the apparatus contributing toward efficiency of the result. it 1 5 i It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention an apparatus in which the several objects hereinbefore set forth together with many tho-roughly practical advantages are successfully achieved.

It will be "seen that the apparatus is of dependable, reliable, and accurate action in blocking thehat body to the desired dimensions and conformation and is operable with nicety and safety ofaction upon the particular quality, texture, weight, thickness or the like of the fur felt of the hat body. While the apparatus is in many respects fully automatic throughout several portionsof a complete cycle, its controls are such that the operator may, according to his judgment as dictated by such factors as just mentioned, interjectsuch variables in the processing and at variable lengths of time intervals as are suited to the particular circumstances. And thus it will be seen that high efficiency and greater dependability and uniformity of quality of result may be successfully achieved.

many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention andasthe art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the-accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted' as'illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

-:I claim A hat blocking apparatus comprising a perforatedjform having a crown portion, a band ring-releasable brim-gripping devices grouped about the axis of said form for gripping peripheral portions of thebrim of a hat body, means for actuating said devices radially outwardly from said axis toistretch the brim, a movable support for said perforated form, said support having a path of movement along said axis in a direction members each having a port therein whereby the port in the one may be broughtinto or out of; registry with the port'fin't lie other accordin the relative slidable movementbetwgensaid two members, and means responsive to rnov ent of said Support ior' eiiecting relative slidingrnove ment betweensaid two members. v I

2- A het ine p a u o mpris eiier i having a crown portion, aband ring, releasable brim-gripping devices grouped aboutthe axis df i or e o i e iph Port o o f c brim of a hat body, means for actnating said devices radially outwardly irom said axis to r h h br e m to dr ven m c ism having a manual star s i o ce re ee e el e ed t w h con ro wi fineens l iisiu actuation of the stop controlswitchat the completion of a cycle of operation and also at a point intermediate of the start and ,end 9f said 9 W T ai me ie ,CQE Q 2 3' 12 2?? actuated first to start the cycle and later ,to omplete it after sa ste contro hi fleetee ed at a i e m a poin hs idmeene ism oompri e m n ope a i dur n the .fi i po i e o s i cycle t nes eed moiste t ra ros to efiect relative movement axiallybetween said for en sa rin i e d reotior io oe erinih hot b y to a d orm ihe to ha t hes a and e e i of the hetbe yi dth n..io,eoe .seid o me s d m nism or p isiriemeans operating during the second portion ofsaidcycle to halt the cooling of the hatbody ar d toefiect retrograde relative movement between ,said band ring and said form.

A hot ockin app tus comprisin -ab form, a band ring, a plurality of brimgripping devices havin m ans .movebl sunnoriinethe in a group aboutthe axis o s id heti rm. ee

of sa devices b vine an p ei otine'therefrom, portions of el of the arm b in ,eq id m d a mean om risin .mova m ans having acor gr v o var in .Widt in which said com-dimensioned portions of s (1 m en a e for displaci sa deripp ne evii es.

lever p votally m un e w th the fires a msithere- 0f projecting transversely of said axis; all of said f ar av com-d mensioned terminal noro and a memb r havin means mountin i for movement along said axis andpresenting Iwo spaced means between which said equi-edimensioned portions of said arms extend vfor thereby effecting radial displacement of said devices i wardly or outwardly, one of said spaced means having 'a conformation to displace said devices radially in difieri'ng'a'mounts to [give the' group of the devices the conformation of anov'al andthe other of said spaced means having a"confo rma tion to displace'said'ar'm's and said 'devl cesito cause the latter to be grouped ina' circle; 4

5. A hat blocking apparatus comprisin'g'abox use frame having upstanding therefrom t f" erally spaced guide bars, a block 'suppsrmn aas mounting and guiding saifd" bl I movement up or down along an axis v,l ite'i fn 111.

ate .of said guide bars,'releasable brim-gripping devices'fhaying'mean's m'ovably mounting them in a group about said axis for gripping peripheral portions of 'the brim of a hat b'ody, movable ring-like meanshaving 'slidable bearing guides on said bars andhaving connections with .said devicesfor controlling the gripping action thereof, aband ring having means provided with sliding be'arings'on said up'standingguide bars for depressing it downwardly along said axis, and driving mechanism carried by said frame andhaving operating connections adjacent each guide bar withsaid ring-like means and with said hand ring depressing means for effecting actuation thereof, said mechanism comprisin means for effecting upward movement of said block support intimed relation to the actuation of said depr i g m an 6. A'hat blocking apparatus comprising a hat iorm having a scoped crown portion, a scoped band ring, a plurality of identically dimensioned releasablebrim-gripping devices having means mounting them at difierent elevations .to form a scoped group about the axis of said form, said devices being movable individually toward or away from said axis without change in relative elevations thereof as provided by said mounting means, means for moving said devices radially outwardly to stretch the brim, and means to effect relative movement axially between said form and said band ring in a direction to conform the hat body to said form.

I "7. A hat-blocking apparatus comprising a perforated form over which to receive a hat body, releasable gripping devices for gripping edge portionsofthe hat body, means for effecting relative movement between said form and said gripping devices to stretch the hat body over the form and including a 'slidable tube having a port in a portion of the side wall thereof and having means for slidably guiding it for movement whereby said side port partakes of displacement according to the slidable movement of said tube, and means including said tube and said side port and comprisinga member having -a port relative to which s'aid'sidep'ort of said 'slidable tube is movable to bring said ports into or out of coacting relation,'for supplying to the hat body a fluid for conditioning it;

.8. A hat-blocking apparatus comprising a perforated'form over which to receive a hat body, releasable gripping devices for gripping edge portions of the hat body, means for eiiectin'g relative movement'ibetween said form and said 'gripping devices to stretch the hat body over the'form and including a slidable tube having a port in a wall thereof and having means for slidably guiding it for movement, said tube communicating with the interior of said perforated form and having means supporting the form for movement therewith, said guiding means having port means with which the t be port means is brought into or out of registry according to the sliding position of the tube, and means connecting said port means of said guide means to a source of fluid.

9'. A hat-b oc ng a par s a claimed i claim 5 inwhich the connections between said ring-hire means and said brim gripping devices comprises a plurality of springs, one for each deyiee it e t-b e si .eeoe e i s om is n a a f9 ,11m, abland-ring, a plurality of brim gripping devices me ans moi/ably mounting said devices in substantially'a group. about the axis o f said forrn, each'diiice having" a movable gripping finger,

and mechanism comprising a spring element for each device through which the gripping actuation of said gripping finger is controlled, and a common means for acting upon all of said spring elements to thereby actuate all of said gripping fingers.

11. A hat-blocking apparatus comprising a hat form, a band-ring, releasable brim-gripping devices having means movably mounting them in a group about the axis of said hat form for gripping peripheral portions of the hat body, each of said devices including at least one movable gripping finger, ring-like means having means movably mounting it for movement substantially along the axis of said hat form and having a plurality of leaf springs, one for each device, connections between each leaf spring and a movable gripping finger of a device, and means for effecting relative axial movement between said hat form and said band ring.

12. A hat-blocking apparatus comprising a hat form, a band-ring, a plurality of substantially upstanding lever-like members each provided at its upper end with releasable brim-gripping means, means pivotally supporting said leverlike members in a group about the axis of said hat form for gripping peripheral portions of the hat body, each of said brim-gripping means including at least one movable gripping finger, ringlike means having means mounting it for movement substantially along the axis of said hat form and having projecting therefrom a plurality of cantilever spring elements, one for each of said lever-like members, a plurality of links, one for each lever-like member and each extending lengthwise along its lever-like member said links being connected at their upper and lower ends, respectively, to said gripping means and to said cantilever springs, and means for effecting relative axial movement between said hat form and said band-ring.

13. A hat-blocking apparatus a claimed in claim 12 in which said lever-like members are pivotally mounted adjacent their lower ends on said first-mentioned mounting means and are provided with means for moving them in unison about their pivots thereby to position them in their grouping nearer to or farther away from said axis, the connections between said links and said cantilever springs being located closely adjacent the respective pivots of said lever-like members, whereby said cantilever springs may compensate, during gripping action of said fingers, for relative shifts of the parts due to pivotal movement of said lever-like members.

14. A hat-blocking apparatus comprising a hat form, a band-ring, releasable brim-gripping devices grouped about the axis ,of said hat form for gripping peripheral portions of the hat body, a motor-driven mechanism having a manual start switch and a stop switch and including a driven cam having spaced cam portions to respectively actuate the stop switch at the completion of a cycle of operation and to actuate it at a point intermediate of the start and end of said cycle, whereby said manual switch has to be actuated first to start the cycle and later to complete it after said stop switch is actuated by the first of said spaced cam portions, said mechanism comprising means operating during the first portion of said cycle to heat and moisten the hat body, to effect relative movement between said form and said ring to conform the hat body peripherally gripped by said devices to said form, then to halt heating and moistening of the hat body, and then to cool said hat body, and said mechanism comprising means operating during the second portion of said cycle to halt the cooling of the hat body and to effect relative disengaging movement between said band-ring and said hat form, braking means operable to slow down and halt the drive of said mechanism, and means responsive to actuation of said stop switch for controlling the actuation of said braking means.

15. A hat-blocking apparatus comprising a frame having upstanding therefrom two laterally spaced guide posts, a block support, means mounting and guiding said block support for movement up or down along a vertical axis intermediate of said spaced guide posts, releasable brim-engaging devices having means mounting them in a group about said axis for gripping peripheral por tions of the brim of a hat body, a band-ring to take about a block supported by said block support and adapted to engage the hat body throughout a ring-shaped region intermediate of the tip of the hat body and the peripheral portions gripped by said gripping devices, a rigid crossbeambridging the space between said spaced guide posts and having spaced bearing elements 00- acting with said guide posts whereby said crossbeam is mounted for reciprocating movement, said cross-beam having means substantially coaxial with said aXis for engaging said band-ring to transmit reciprocating movement thereto in up and down strokes, and mechanism for reciprocating said cross-beam and including operating connections that apply moving forces to said cross-beam in directions substantially aligned with said spaced ppsts.

16. A hat-blocking apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which aid operating connections comprise two links extending vertically and substantially aligned, respectively, with said guide posts and having connection at their upper ends with said cross-beam, driven cam means having an undulating cam portion, lever means having connection with the lower ends of said links, and cam follower means coacting with said undulating cam portion for oscillating said lever means.

BURLING D. WELLS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Casse Aug. 23, 1932 Number 

